One of only four Test bowlers to take 100-plus wickets who made their Test debut after the age of 30, Dilip Rasiklal Doshi, is a former Indian left-arm spinner. He represented India in 33 Te...Full profile

One of only four Test bowlers to take 100-plus wickets who made their Test debut after the age of 30, Dilip Rasiklal Doshi, is a former Indian left-arm spinner. He represented India in 33 Tests and 15 ODIs.

Even before he got a chance to play for India, Doshi made a name for himself while playing county cricket. He was a master of flight and his control over the ball, made him a well-respected figure in the county circuit. In a different era, Doshi probably would have had a longer international career, but with Bishan Singh Bedi, a world-class left-arm spinner already in the team, he had to wait for his turn.

Doshi, in fact, is the luckiest of the three great left-arm spinners in Indian domestic cricket history, whose chances of representing India got hampered because they were born in the same era as Bedi.The other two unfortunate members of the trio, Padmakar Shivalkar and Rajinder Goel (highest wicket-taker in Ranji history), only featured for India in unofficial Tests and never played an international game.

He only made his Test debut in 1979, against Australia in Chennai. He was India's best bowler in the game, finishing with match figures of 8/167, including a 6-wicket haul in the first innings of the match. In the final match of the series in Bombay (now Mumbai), he played a crucial role in India's victory, taking 5/43 and 3/60 in the match.

The success he found in the series made him a regular in the Indian side for a few years. In an ODI career that just lasted 15 games, he took 22 wickets in total. However, his fielding was a cause of concern and Ravi Shastri was selected in his place for the 1983 World Cup.

The failure to produce match-winning performances with the ball on a regular basis didn't help his cause either. It is also believed that his relationship with Sunil Gavaskar was a reason behind his exclusion from the Test team.

Doshi also served as the Managing Director of Entrack India. He is also the father of English cricketer, Nayan Doshi.